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Tom Clark, Jr. was welcomed by Tom Clark, Sr. and Corrilla (Lewis) Clark on August 31, 1959 in Mooreland, Oklahoma. Tom started life climbing a mountain with major eye surgery when he was one year old, but he did not let the hard road stop him. He graduated from Mooreland High School in 1977 and NWOSU in 1981. He lived and worked in Oklahoma City, Phoenix, AZ and Carrolton, TX before finding his way back to Mooreland in 1991. He found his calling when he formed Western Cedar Hunting Preserve and entered a partnership with his mother, Corrilla. While she provided hearty meals and hospitality, he improved the land, raised the birds, trained dogs, and led guided hunts. Tom once said, "I have never been as broke or as happy as I am now."
As a youngster, we remember Tom, the animal lover - any animal. Tom had all of the usual childhood pets plus a crow, a coyote, a roadrunner, and most notable, Tex, the longhorn steer. You may remember that he broke Tex to ride under saddle and bareback. His mother would lookup and see Tom standing in the pasture and Tex running full speed towards him. Tex would be tossing his great horns back and forth and come to a sliding stop in front of Tom and stretch his neck, ready for a kiss on the nose. His greatest loves were his Chesapeake Bay Retrievers, Spiro, Nell, and Bea.
Tom operated the preserve for a quarter of a century. He hosted a
general, a singer and his band, and a group of 34 disabled veterans. He
helped fulfilled a Make-A-Wish request when a wheelchair bound young man
came for a guided hunt. Other things you
might not know about Tom:
He
played the grand piano as a child.
He was a great dancer.
He loved to
play pool.
He refurbished a vintage Chevy truck.
He was a member of
the Rural Fire Association.
Some of you might also remember Tom's sense of humor. One summer his mother heard him laughing. He was sitting in the living room, alone. "Son, why are you laughing?" she asked, He replied, "I am just thinking about all of the ornery things me and Max Haskins are going to do when school starts!"
You could also get on his bad side - especially if you were a niece and nephew who used the windmill head for target practice or a niece who sat in HIS chair. No matter the wrong, all would be forgiven and you could expect a pithy note in the next birthday card.
Tom worked hard and treasured his independence to the end. He was loved and he loved us back.
He was preceded in death by his father, Tom Clark, Sr., and his beloved Chesapeakes, Spiro, Nell and Bea. He is survived by his mother, Corrilla Clark, his sisters Lanett Clark-Rudy (Mike) and Jacqueline Newton (Carl), Nieces Rachael Newton and Stacie Newton, Nephew Tim Newton (Michelle), great-nieces and nephews, Elijah, Sam, Tommy, Isabella, Kaylynn, and Zeke. His aunts, uncles, their families, good friends, and clients.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Friday, March 3, 2023 in the Mooreland First Baptist Church. Visitation will be held in the Billings Funeral Home of Woodward on Thursday, March 2, 2023 from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. The family will receive friends at the funeral home in Woodward on Thursday, March 2, 2023 from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m.
The family requests in lieu of flowers memorials be sent to Woodward County Prescribed Burn Association (WCPBA), c/o Ricky Heflin, 39768 South CR 208, Woodward, OK 73801
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